FIRST THE FACTS.... THE NEWS
BOSTON MARATHON BOMBER TSARNAEV IS SENTENCED TO DEATH
On Friday, May 15, the Boston Marathon Bomber was sentenced to death. In April, 2013, 19 year old Dzhokar Tsarnaev set off a bomb in Boston, killing three victims, including an eight year old boy, Martin Richard. After a long two years, the courts finally had his trial and made up their minds about what to do with Tsarnaev. Under a unanimous vote, the jury decided to sentence Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to death.
AGREE OR DISAGREE???
In this particular circumstance, I disagree entirely with the death penalty . Firstly, Dzhokar Tsarnaev did the bombing when he was nineteen years old. I know that "technically speaking" he was not a kid, but reality says otherwise. He was what I like too call "Y and S" young and stupid. He obviously did not think through what he was doing before he did it. Dzhokar Tsarnaev was also under the influence of his holder brother. If we think about it, if we were surrounded with bad influences for all of our lives, maybe we would not have been much different. After all, our environment helps to shape who we are. Maybe if Tsarnaev was twenty one, or maybe if he was in his thirties, I would not have so much sympathy. However, being that he is so young, who are we to decide that his life should end? Obviously Tsarnaev must pay for what he did, but death is not the way to do it. I was always taught ever since I was little, "two wrongs don't make right". Is this what we Americans call a right? What happened to morals? What happened to the value of life? There are some who say "justice will be served". Will it? Will the three victims ever come back to life? Will the people with broken limbs magically grow new ones? In this case no, justice will not and will never be served. This is different from a robber who steels, and works all his life to repay what he stole. In this case, (once the family has it's money back) justice has been served. The family now has back what they have lost. The question is, are we going to stoop to Tsarnaev's level? Are we going to give "eye for a eye, tooth for a tooth"? Instead, why don't we be better and give this boy a chance to rebuild his life. Let him do community service in the day (even if it means picking up trash), and then sit in jail at night. Let him be imprisoned for the next thirty years, and then lets let him free. Give him a new start, give him a new chance. That can be our message for those like Icis, that we American people don't act the way they act. We don't kill, rather we are decent and kind Human beings.
FIRST THE FACTS.... THE ARTICLE
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ARE RELIGIOUS NOT SECULAR
A judge in Oklahoma ruled last week that a monument to the Ten Commandments could stay at the state capitol.
JUDGE THOMAS Prince didn’t seem to know his Bible well when he stated that a monument with the Ten Commandments engraved on it served a secular purpose and could be placed on state-owned property (“Oklahoma judge dismisses Ten Commandments lawsuit,” Nation, Sept. 20). Three commandments, not to murder, steal, or bear false witness, are reflected in secular law. But look at some of the others.
The First Commandment states that only one god may be worshipped. Can pagans be prosecuted for honoring multiple gods?
The First Commandment forbids the worship of “graven images.” This prohibition is left out of the Catholic version. Can Catholics be prosecuted for having a statue of the Virgin Mary on their lawn?
The Second Commandment states, “Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain.” Do Oklahoma police arrest people for swearing?
The Third Commandment demands, “Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.” Does Oklahoma prosecute people for skipping church?
The Rev. Bruce Prescott, a Baptist minister, sued to keep the monument off government property. He understands that such a placement violates the separation of church and state. Judge Prince not only permitted a violation of the US Constitution, but insulted all those who take the Bible and their religion seriously.
Peter Denison
Somerset
The First Commandment states that only one god may be worshipped. Can pagans be prosecuted for honoring multiple gods?
The First Commandment forbids the worship of “graven images.” This prohibition is left out of the Catholic version. Can Catholics be prosecuted for having a statue of the Virgin Mary on their lawn?
The Second Commandment states, “Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain.” Do Oklahoma police arrest people for swearing?
The Third Commandment demands, “Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.” Does Oklahoma prosecute people for skipping church?
The Rev. Bruce Prescott, a Baptist minister, sued to keep the monument off government property. He understands that such a placement violates the separation of church and state. Judge Prince not only permitted a violation of the US Constitution, but insulted all those who take the Bible and their religion seriously.
Peter Denison
Somerset
AGREE OR DISAGREE???
On the certain circumstance, I would have to disagree with Judge Thomas Prince, and agree with the editor. Some of the Ten Commandments have laws that are written in our very own constitution; "Don't Steal", "Don't Be a false witness", and "Don't Kill". However, the other seven laws are ones that can not be enforced or imposed on any individual by law. "Do not say G-D's name in vain." We cannot arrest every person who swears can we? "Keep the Sabbath Holy." In these days the Sabbath is different for everyone. "You shall not worship any other G-D's." Are we going to tell people what religion they must be? Interestingly, our constitution does mention G-D. However, times have changed. You have people who are atheists, folks who worship "other G-D's" etc. In a country like Ireland where the majority of the population is Catholic, a monument of the Ten Commandments in a public place is appropriate. In a country like the United States that is liberal and enlightened, with a spread of cultures and religion, it is not appropriate to have a religious monument in which one might believe in; to be placed in a public place.